The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is high in patients with obesity scheduled for bariatric surgery. This single-centre observational prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the impact of bariatric surgery on NAFLD/NASH. Initial findings show that bariatric surgery significantly improves NAFLD/NASH in the short term. However, the extent of this improvement and long-term […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Economic burden of unmet surgical needs in Liberia
The economic burden associated with unmet surgical needs in Liberia was investigated through a nationwide enumeration of surgical procedures and providers. Researchers estimated that surgical activities prevented an economic loss ranging from $35 to $141 million in 2018, averting a total of 55,890 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Non-specialist physicians played a significant role in generating […]
Downstaging After Preoperative Chemoradiation Improves Survival in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who experience significant downstaging after preoperative chemoradiation have better overall survival compared to those with true pathologic stage 0-1 disease treated with upfront surgery. This was determined through a retrospective review of the national cancer database, which included a study population of 59,884 patients. The findings suggest that response […]
High-grade Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasms of the Pancreas Have Distinct Clinicopathological and Genetic Features
A study comparing high-grade solid pseudopapillary neoplasms (hg-SPNs) with conventional SPNs (c-SPNs) found that hg-SPNs exhibit more aggressive malignant characteristics, such as larger tumor size, true necrosis, high-grade nuclear atypia, and lymphatic and/or venous invasion. All hg-SPN patients died of the disease, while c-SPN patients were alive without recurrence. Genetic analysis showed ctnnb1 mutations in […]
Molecular profiling improves overall survival in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
In a comprehensive multidisciplinary clinic, molecular profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) identified actionable molecular alterations in 45% of patients, including mutations and amplifications. Among 120 patients with molecular profiling, the detection of these alterations significantly improved mean overall survival (OS) by 10.5 months. Additionally, in 70 patients with non-metastatic ICC, the detection of actionable molecular […]
Using Circulating Tumor DNA as a Biomarker for Early Cancer Recurrence after Surgery
Researchers conducted a systematic review on the feasibility of using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker in the immediate postoperative period. Eight cohort studies across six different cancer types showed that patients with detectable ctDNA after surgery had an increased risk of cancer recurrence. This suggests that early postoperative time points could be used […]
Impact of Guideline Adherence on the Prognosis of Stage B Hepatocellular Carcinoma
South Korean patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage B hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) showed significant variations in adherence to treatment guidelines over the study period of 2008-2016. Adherence to guidelines, particularly those recommended by the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases […]
Faculty Perception Misaligned with Resident Behaviors in the Operating Room
Researchers conducted a study to determine if faculty perception aligned with resident self-perception of intraoperative behaviors in order to enhance intraoperative learning. They found that faculty were not able to accurately perceive residents’ motivational style, as evidenced by the lack of correlation between resident self-perception and faculty perception of resident behavior in eight out of […]
Impact of Patient Transfer on Perforated Peptic Ulcer Disease Outcomes: Prolonged Hospital Stay
A study examined the impact of patient transfer for definitive surgical intervention in cases of perforated peptic ulcer disease (PPUD). The analysis found that transferred patients had a significantly longer length of stay compared to non-transfer patients. The average length of hospital stay for transferred patients was over twice as long, with an average of […]
Efficacy of Nissen Sleeve Gastrectomy in Long-Term Barrett’s Esophagus Regression
Results of a bicentric retrospective study involving 692 patients who underwent Nissen Sleeve Gastrectomy (NSG) demonstrated that NSG led to the healing of known Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) in approximately 64.1% of patients at a 2-year follow-up. The incidence of de novo BE post NSG was found to be nil among the 234 patients who underwent […]